Remastered at Newbury!

       Remastered runs at Newbury today

The weather caused trouble to two of he jumps fixtures yesterday, forcing the abandonment of both Doncaster and Musselburgh.  Newbury went ahead thanks to their fleece covers and there was some good afternoon action.  Unfortunately the weather looks set to disrupt a cracking afternoon of racing with Newcastle already abandoned and Newbury, Bangor and Doncaster all inspecting this morning.

I hope I am wrong but with the forecast I think all of the meetings may struggle to be on, including Newbury as after racing yesterday it would have been a race against time for the 60 ground staff to deploy the covers quickly enough before the frost started to set in.  I am only surprised they did not employ a bigger team of people to undertake the task but even so I think they will need a lot of luck for racing to go ahead.  Hopefully it will as we have just one runner, in the big race of the day, the December Gold Cup, Remastered at 2.50pm.  After falling when in with every chance two years ago he finished a close second last year and it would be amazing if he could go one place better this time around.  He has followed the same route as last year by running over hurdles on his seasonal reappearance at Aintree and while he won that race last year and was unplaced this time around I don’t think we should read too much into that.  He had a bit of a rushed preparation into Aintree compared with previously and he has really come into himself since that run and is very fresh and well at home – just ask his regular work rider Ashley Farrant!  He had a wind operation during the summer and hopefully the run over hurdles has given him confidence in himself again.  He is higher in the ratings this time around but he loves the track, will handle the ground and I think he has an each way chance.  Jack Tudor rides.

Yesterday we ran Iceo Madrik at Newbury, he was unplaced but didn't run too badly. The ground was a lot quicker than ideal for him, but he kept galloping all the way to the line and will be seen to better effect over fences and in much testing conditions.   

There are sales after racing at Newbury today.  There are about 20 lots on offer in the bespoke sale which gets underway in the winners enclosure immediately after racing with the last race at 3.25pm.  If anyone would like any further details please do not hesitate to get in touch!

The Newcastle Fighting Fifth hurdle card was called off at 2.30pm on Friday afternoon with snow and freezing temperatures giving no prospects of racing.  It seems like Constitution Hill will now head straight for the Christmas hurdle at Kempton although behind the scenes it appears they may try to re-schedule the Fighting Fifth hurdle.  It also means we won’t get to see Shishkin race – if he had consented to jump off!  Mr Henderson is keen to get a run into him before a crack at the King George on Boxing Day.

The meeting at Fairyhouse in Ireland today must also pass a morning inspection while Leicester are inspecting at 11.30am this morning ahead of their Sunday fixture so they cannot be too hopeful of racing.  The joys of winter racing!  It looks set to be a little warmer next week so fingers crossed there shouldn’t be too many problems after this weekend.

Last night in the football the England Women 3 - 2 Netherlands

Today there are no early kick-off Premier League games but Wolves travel to Arsenal at 3pm.  Nottingham Forest are at home to Everton at 5.30pm while Manchester United have a tough game away to Newcastle at 8pm.

Scientists got bored after watching the Earth turn after 24 hours.

So they called it a day.  Have a good day!